The Homeschool Minute ~ Todd Wilson

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Stressed about Christmas? You should be!!! It’s right around the corner, and it’s going to be over before you know it. If it will make you feel better, scream right now. Feel better?

Here’s the deal: there are Marthas and there are Marys. Some get stressed and some don’t. My wife and I are one of each, and let me just say that we Marys cause MORE stress for the Marthas. Marys see all the fun and Marthas see all the things to be done. I’m not sure how you can change who you are, but maybe there are things you can do to be less stressed out.

Isn’t she adorable? Hmm . . . well, anyway I guess this turned out to be for those who DON’T get stressed out. We need to be understanding of our stressed-out spouses, AND we need to avoid adding to the stress by having such high expectations of fun and by being bothered when they are stressed out. That’s just the way they were created. In fact, it’s almost absurd to think that I, a non-stressed person, can instruct a completely, differently wired, stressed-out person to avoid the stress. Even Jesus, when he told Martha that she was missing out on the best, didn’t offer any instructions. He just stated the fact.

So if you’re stressed out, print this off and give it to your spouse. And if you’re not stressed out, try to be understanding, let the comments roll off your back (easier to write than do), and ask your spouse how you might help lessen the stress.

Isn’t marriage at Christmas fun?

Be real,

Todd

P.S. We’re having an “I-Ordered-Too-Many-Christmas-Crafts” Sale, and our Christmas crafts are now only $5. The craft kit includes FOUR easy-to-assemble Christmas crafts for your kids to assemble. Once made, they make great gifts and cherished heirlooms. Order right now!!

Sponsor Article

Loving God with All Our Mind

By Dee Jones

Fall–another school year is beginning and where are our thoughts? We find ourselves thinking non-stop about curriculum choices, lesson planning, schedules, meals, and much more. It is so easy to let our minds run to overwhelming responsibilities and to-do lists.

Preparing to homeschool our children takes time, energy, and planning, which are good things, but too much of this can cause discouragement and stress. When difficult moments arise, we are given the opportunity to exercise our faith and refocus our thoughts towards God.

Here are three steps to help refocus:

Recognize the negative thoughts.
We must recognize when our thinking is stinking. Our thoughts stink when they do not align with God’s word and are contrary to His nature. When this happens we must be quick to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Talk to yourself.
C.J. Mahaney points out in his book Humility, “Christians spend way too much time listening to themselves instead of speaking to themselves.”Too often we listen to the voice in our head say, “I do not have time for this. I will never get it done. I am a failure!” Sound familiar? Instead we need to speak words of truth to ourselves, “It is God who works in me to will and to act according to His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). I will accomplish in this day what He has called me to do. I will do all things for and to His glory.”Speak truth to yourself and do not be pulled down by the lies of the enemy.

Spend time alone with God.
Nothing helps us refocus our minds more than time alone with God. For us moms this time can be hard to find! We have many demands in a day, especially when our children are small. Each day is filled with instructing, explaining, correcting, and comforting so we need to be filled by the Lord to pour into our families.Try to give yourself a few minutes each day. Sit at the feet of your Savior, renew your mind (Romans 12:2) with scripture, be still and listen.

Loving God with our minds takes time and discipline, but for everything He calls us to, He equips us for. God Bless.

We have a surprise for you on Everyday Copywork that will help you take some stress out of Christmas. We invite you to pull up a chair and enjoy poems by Janice D. Green, author of The First Christmas Bible storybook and owner of Honeycomb Adventures Press, LLC. Relax and ponder the Christmas story in a special way as Janice retells it in thirteen original poems. Have fun with these handwriting worksheets just in time for Christmas!

If you have little ones ages 5-10 at home, don’t miss your chance to see their work brought to life! In partnership with EZTales.com, Schoolhouse Teachers is running a storybook contest. The winner will receive a Kindle Fire Tablet, and the winning story will be animated for everyone to enjoy. No membership is needed to enter. More than 200 stories have already been submitted. We’ve extended the entry deadline-but only until midnight, December 31st. Visit our Contest page for details.

Don’t miss our Buy-One-Get-One December membership special. Buy one year of SchoolhouseTeachers.com and receive a free one-year membership to bless a friend or loved one with! Plus, you’ll receive a FREE copy of the 2014 Print Issue when it is released (US only) and access to the Schoolhouse Library. Don’t miss this incredible sale!

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Purchase a full-year membership to SchoolhouseTeachers.com, and receive:

Schoolhouse E-Library

Brand-new TOS 2014 Annual Print Book

AND a one-year membership for a friend

Both you and your friend will have a full year of fantastic resources for all your kids from preschoolers to high schoolers. You will enjoy the flexible teaching options for reading, writing, history, and math AND all the exciting electives, like videomaking, foreign language, music, and more with your one-year membership, and you’ll stay organized with the free planners and Applecore tracking system.

But that’s not all, we’re excited to give you our brand new 2014 Annual Print Book issue! This beautiful, large annual issue of the magazine will encourage you throughout 2014 and will be mailed to you directly from the printer as soon as it releases next year.

And finally, we’re including our vast Schoolhouse E-library with over 175 titles of the best in home education information. You can see the complete booklist here.

Would you like to earn 20% commission on TOS items that family and friends purchase through an affiliate website? It’s easy, check out this page for more information. Once you are signed up, you simply share your unique affiliate link with family and friends. If anyone purchases anything from the TOS website using your affiliate link, you receive a 20% commission. There are even buttons available to help you promote your affiliate link on your website or blog.

“I am amazed at the number of times I open The Homeschool Minute newsletter and have the opportunity to read EXACTLY what I need that day! Thank you so much for putting a real face on homeschooling.”

–Michelle Sager

Liberty Twp, OH

“I really enjoy reading all the THM articles. I learn a lot from Todd Wilson’s column. [He’s a] funny guy who speaks the simple truth! Thank you very much!”

–Charlene

Brandon, FL

“I look forward to THM every Wednesday. I really enjoy Deborah’s articles. For some reason, it must be God, she always writes about what I am needing to hear. Her ability to put scripture and God in the middle of all her articles keeps me coming back. I recently have been enjoying the Youngs’ [articles] because I have a young man (10) in my house. The encouragement of the Youngs is fabulous. I thank God for parents like them that pave the way for parents like myself and my husband.”

–Racheal Fowler

Glen Burnie, Maryland

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–Leigh Anne McGrady, Dunwoody, GA

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–SpunkyHomeschool

“Thanks ever so much. I love the encouraging articles! I really loved the list of 25 all in one place. Nice to have this little bit of “free” encouragement in my mail. I don’t have funds to subscribe or purchase frills and with also working more than half time I don’t have time to search it out. May God bless you exceedingly.”

–Teresa, rural Kansas

“I absolutely love Todd’s column. He always seems to put things in the proper perspective, and it keeps me from getting all stressed and anxious. Thanks Todd, and thanks TOS!!”